Kintsugi: Japan's ingenious gold restoration technique

Japanese artisans attach cracks in ceramics with gold mixes because they believe that the combination of cracks makes the item permanent, more beautiful and meaningful.

Kintsugi (Golden Carpentry) , also known as Kintsukuroi, can be interpreted as 'gold to heal' , is a type of traditional Japanese art used to restore ceramics.

Kintsugi is a type of traditional Japanese art craft.

The sharpener of ceramic or lacquer pieces has broken and joined them together with a mixture of esoteric 'resin ' (resin) or lacquer mixed with gold, silver or platinum powder. The item was not only well-matched, it was even more beautiful than the original item and became a very valuable piece of art.

The item was not only recombined, it was even more beautiful than the original item.

Japanese artisans attach cracks in ceramics with gold mixes because they believe that the combination of cracks makes the item permanent, more beautiful and meaningful.

There are many different theories about the origin of Kintsugi's art, one of the fascinating stories often introduced to visitors about Kintsugi that began in the 15th century.

During the development process, Japanese craftsmen applied this technique on ceramics of different origins.

Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa at that time sent a precious bowl of broken tea back to China to be healed. However, the Japanese general still only received an ugly reinforced bowl. Therefore, Japanese craftsmen have begun to find another way to match the fragments to be more beautiful and firm. Since then, Kintsugi art was born. During the development process, Japanese craftsmen have applied this technique on ceramics of different origins, most of which are from China, Vietnam and Korea.

Basically, Kintsugi's restoration techniques are divided into 3 types:

1. Recovery method (Crack) : attaching cracks or filling missing pieces on the item with a mixture of gold. This is the most basic method of Kintsugi.
2. Alternative method (Piece method) : applied in case there is no debris of the same type, artisans will use all kinds of 'plastic' gold or gold compound - lacquer to complete the work.
3. Joint call : using a fragment of similar material but the pattern is not the same as the original product paired with the original artifact. Of course, these fragments must match and match with each other in color, composition, creating unique value for the work.

Kintsugi (Golden Carpentry), also known as Kintsukuroi.

In a recent seminar held in London, two artists from Kyoto, Japan, Muneaki Shimode and Takahiko Sato, directly performed the unique art performance of the Cherry Blossom country to the public.